Frequently asked questions for staff

Who is counselling for?
Is it free?
Is it confidential?
How does a student make an appointment?
Can I arrange an appointment on behalf of a student?
Will a student be able to see a counsellor straight away?
How many sessions will a student be offered?
What information is available to take away?
Can I give feedback on the service?
What about emergencies?
What are the drop-in support and advice sessions?
Can staff attend the service for counselling?
Is the service open throughout the academic holidays?

Who is counselling for?

Counselling is available to all full and part-time students, undergraduate and post graduate of NUI, Galway. Each year, approx. 600 students have contact with the service. These include students who have come from school to college, mature students, international students and students with disabilities.

Is it free?

The service is free to all registered students of NUI, Galway.

Is it confidential?

Yes. As a general rule, counsellors will not divulge any information about students outside the service, without their permission. The only exception to this would be if the counsellor feels there is a serious risk either to the student or to someone else.

We maintain case notes on all clients. These are kept by the counsellor the student is attending and are to help him/her reflect on your situation and offer the best possible help. Details are also kept anonymously on a database for statistical purposes only.  (There will be a link here to the confidentiality page)

How does a student make an appointment?

Appointments can be made by phoning 091-492484 (Fiona Kennedy) or e-mail:  fiona.kennedy nuigalway.ie  or you can drop in between the hours of 9.15 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. or 2.15 p.m. and 4.15 p.m.

Can I arrange an appointment on behalf of a student?

If you feel the student needs to see a counsellor, it’s important to have their agreement in this. You can then make an appointment for them, provided they are with you at the time.

Will a student be able to see a counsellor straight away?

This depends on the time of year. We aim to offer everyone a first appointment within seven to ten days to talk about your needs. The counsellor will discuss with the student when they can be seen for ongoing counselling. It is advised to book appointments as soon as possible. Because of the high demand for spaces, we would appreciate if students would let the administrator know, as soon as possible, if you wish to cancel.

How many sessions will a student be offered?

This varies for each individual, but initially students will be offered six sessions. In some cases this can be reviewed and further sessions offered if appropriate.

What information is available to take away?

We provide self help fact sheets in our waiting area, as well as information on various organisations who can provide help. We also stock a range of free booklets on a variety of mental health topics such as Anxiety, Stress, Depression and others. These can be picked up from the waiting area at any time when the service is open.

Can I give feedback on the service?

Yes. We encourage staff  to evaluate their experience of dealing with the service and let is know what aspects they found helpful and what could be improved. This is in the form of an anonymous web questionnaire which is conducted annually. Staff will be notified of this via e-mail.

What about emergencies?

A limited number of appointments with a counsellor are available each week for emergencies only.

What are the Drop-in Support and Advice Sessions?

We also run a drop-in service from 2.15 p.m. - 4.15p.m. each day when students can be seen for a brief consultation, without prior appointment. If you know a student may need to talk through something but are unsure if they would attend counselling, the support and advice sessions are ideal. (link to support and advice page).

Can staff attend the service for counselling?

No. A counselling service is provided through Human Resources, with the Employee Assistance Programme. This service is fully confidential and no record of attendance is available to the University.

Is the service open throughout the academic holidays?

The service is open throughout the calendar year except between Christmas and New Year when the University as a whole closes. Between semesters availability is subject to staff holidays.

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